Bee-hive



(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

G. A. DRUMMOND.

BBEHIVE.

No. 470,111., Patented Mar. 1, 1 92.

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q vvc'mooa 6.1/4. ZMWWMWWL (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. A. DRUMMOND.

BEEHIVE.

No. 470,111. Patented Mar. 1, 1892.

A Suva 1, 601 04, Q/Lwrwmmab (No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

G. A. DRUMMOND.

B'EEHIVE.

No. 470,111. Patented Mar. 1, 1892.

ammo/whom vtion, such as will enable others skilled in the hive.

GREENVILLE A. DRUMMOND PATENT OFFICE.

, or LANCASTER, MISSOURI.

BEE-HIVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 470,111, dated March 1,1892.

Application filed June 20, 1891. Serial No. 396,970. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GREENVILLE A. DRUM- MOND, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Lancaster, in the county of Schuyler and Stateof Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bee-Hives; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invenart to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to lettersof reference marked thercon,whicl1 form a partot this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is an end view.Fig. 3 is a vertical section, and Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detail views.Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line a m, Fig. 3, withthe boxes and frames re-' moved.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements inbee-hives; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangernent ofparts thereof, as hereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, the letterAdesignates the hive, the body of which is shown as formed of an oblongrectangular box resting upon one'of its angles, which is truncated toform a base. The box is also supported and braced by the frame a and thelegs a. In this position the two upper sides b 6 form a gable roof forthe B is the alighting-board, arranged along the lower portion of thehive in front of the entrance. The two upper side portions I) ma beprovided with hinges, in order that they may be readily turned back topermit access to the hive.

The interior of the hive is subdivided by the vertical transversepartitions O 0, one located near each end, forming the end chambers E E,and a central chamber between said partitions, in the lower portion ofwhich is located the brood-chamber O. The partitions 0 0' form the endsof this chamber, and the side portions are formed by the frames 0 c andby the lower partitions d (1', against which the lower edges of theframes 0' 0 respectively rest. The partitions d d are extended out tothe sides or gable portions, and,

with the lower portions D of the hive, form chambers D and D, one ateach side and partially under the brood-chamber. Above and around theupper portions of the brood-chamber are the chambers F and F.

The partitions G O, as well as the frames 0 ciforming the upper sides ofthe broodchamber, are formed of slats spaced a short distance from eachother,'in order to leave slots or openings d and (1 the former beinginthe frames 0 c and the latter in the partitions C O and d (1, so thatthe bees may pass freely from'the brood-chamber into the respectivechambers D D, E E, and F F chamber to another.

In the brood-chamber G is a series of angular brood-frames c, which arearranged in transverse vertical position side by side, and held inplace, preferably, by the corrugated wires 6 e on the side frames d cl,as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

K'K designate the comb and honey boxes, which are designed to bearranged in tiers in the respective chambers D D, E E, and F F.

and from one In Fig. 5 I have shown in detail one form of' box which maybe used, and in Fig. 3 I have shown similar boxes in place in thechamber D. These boxes vary somewhat in size and shape, however, as maybe desired, and in accordance with the chambers in which they areplaced. They are also usually slotted on three or more sides, as shown,in order that the bees may have free access thereto, the slotted sidesbeing placed contiguous to and preferably registering with the slots inthe various partitions or frames against which they lie, while theirclosed sides are contiguous to the outer walls of the hive. The sides ofthe respective boxes which adjoin each other are also usually slotted,so that the bees may readily pass from one box to the other. Theposition in which these boxes are placed and the manner in which thebees are permitted access from one to the other and from thebrood-chamber thereto is clearly illustrated by the boxes shown inposition in chamber D of Fig. 3. It is in these boxes K that the combsare formed and the honey stored. Said boxes are removable, beingsupported only by the frame of the hive and by each other. N

Instead of using the boxes K in all the chambers I may place thereincrates H, de-

signed to hold one or two pound sections H.

Vhen thesecratesbecome filled,the cratesmay be removed, and are then allready for shipment. One of these crates is shown in detail in Fig. 5,and in Fig. 3 I have shown two of them in position with the sections Htherein and separated by a thin strip h of suitable material from eachother. The bottom portions H of these crates are usually slotted, asshown at it, in order that the bees may pass freely between them andfrom one to the other.

The hive is so constructed as to afiord am ple room for the working ofthe bees during the entire season, thus preventing their swarming andobviating the consequent care and attendance. As long as the bees havefree access to all of the honey-chambers they will not swarm under anycircumstances, loss of queen excepted; but if shut out from theadditional chambers (which may be easily done by means of slides, notshown) they will swarm, and in this manner the number of swarms may beregulated, as desired.

The bees can pass freely to all parts of the hive owing to the slottedpartitions, filling all the boxes and requiring no attention. The heatgenerated by the bees in the brood-chamher will pass into thesurrounding chambers, thus enabling the bees to begin the work ofconstructing combs and storing honey, a certain amountof heat beingrequired to enable them to work the wax.

The hive will be cool in summer, as the brood-chamber is surrounded bythe chambers on all sides, which protect it from the rays of the sun. Itis also warm in winter for the same reason, being surrounded by thehoneychambers. The arrangement of the various partitions is such thatall comb cuttings, dead bees, &c., will fall down and out and be carriedaway by the wind, thus preventing the clogging of the entrance and thesmothering of the bees. All moisture will be carried off and preventedfrom reaching the bees.

The frames 0 in the brood-chamber are shown as held in place by thewires 6 and may be readily removed when desired.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A bee-hive having a brood-chamber located at its lower centralportion,having ch ambers F F above and partially at the side of saidchamber and separated therefrom by frames having a series of slotstherein, end chambers E E, formed by vertical transverse partitions, andthe chambers D D, one at each lower side portion of the hive andpartially under the brood-chamber, the partitions forming the walls ofsaid chambers being formed each with a series of slots to permit freeaccess of the bees from one portion of the hive to another,substantially as specified.

2. A bee-hive comprising a rectangular oblong box having one of itsangles truncated to form a base and two of its sides arranged to form agable roof therefor, the interior of said box near each end having avertical transverse slotted partition forming the honeychambers E E anda central chamber, a broodchamber in the lower portion of said centralchamber, formed by end partitions and by frames 0 c and lower partitionsd d, the chambers D D below said partitions d cl, all of said partitionsand frames being formed with a series of slots, and boxes or cratesarranged in tiers in said chambers, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GREENVILLE A. \Vitnesses:

E1). F. PAYTON, W. L. CASPER.

DRUWMOND.

